IC card reading/writing device

ABSTRACT

An IC card reading/writing device comprises a main body and a conductive cover member. The main body includes a first and a second member which define space for storing an IC card, and can be removably inserted into that storage section of an information processing device which is intended to store a standard card and which has earthing members. The first and second members of the main body and the IC card inserted in the space constitutes a unit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identical to those of the standard card. The conductive cover member covers the entire outer peripheral portion of the first member, and contacts the earthing members when the main body is located in the storage section.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/748,828, filed Nov. 14,1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,103.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an IC card reading/writing device whichreads data from and writes data to a IC card or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to read data from an IC card and write data thereinto, it isnecessary to insert the IC card into an IC card reading/writing device.

A conventional IC card reading/writing device is connected to a computerdevice when it is used. To be more specific, the reading/writing deviceis located outside the computer device and connected to an interfacethereof, e.g., RS-232C, by a connector cable. As disclosed in Jpn. Pat.Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 4-38027, the reading/writing device canhold an IC card in it in a predetermined position. The device is shapedlike a box and is relatively large in thickness since it includes aninternal member, such as a vertically movable contact holder for holdingcontact pins which are to be put into contact with the IC incorporatedin the card.

Therefore, the conventional IC card reading/writing device hasdisadvantages. First, the reading/writing device needs a connecter cableto be connected to the computer device. Second, as mentioned above, thereading/writing device is located outside the computer device when it isused. Therefore, the reading/writing device cannot be used if there isnot sufficient space outside the computer device for the reading/writingdevice.

Moreover, conventional IC card reading/writing devices are large. As aresult, the reading/writing device cannot be inserted into the storagespace provided in a computer device for storing a standard card. Hence,the reading/writing device cannot be used in the computer device.Needless to say, the reading/writing device cannot be inserted into aportable compact computer device. Thus, the reading/writing device mustbe carried independently of the portable compact computer device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in consideration of the abovecircumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide an ICcard reading/writing device which has a small thickness, and can be usedin a portable compact computer device (information processing device).The IC card reading/writing device does not need a connector cable foruse in connection between the reading/writing device and the computerdevice, or space for location of the reading/writing device outside thecomputer device. Furthermore, the reading/writing device can be insertedinto and removed from the storage section of the information processingdevice and can be reliably grounded by the information processingdevice.

The above object is accomplished by an IC card reading/writing devicecomprising:

a main body including a first member and a second member which arelocated opposite to each other, defining space for storing an IC card,the first and second members and the IC card inserted in the spaceconstituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which aresubstantially identical to a size and an outer shape of a standard card,and the main body capable of being removably inserted into that storagesection of an information processing apparatus which is provided forstoring the standard card and which has earthing members; and

a conductive cover member covering an entire outer peripheral portion ofthe first member, and contacting the earthing members as long as themain body remains inserted in the storage section.

The object is also accomplished by an IC card reading/writing devicecomprising:

a main body capable of being removably inserted into that storagesection of an information processing apparatus which is provided forstoring a standard card and which has projections, the main bodyincluding a first member, a second member, and a step portion which isput into contact with the projections of the storage section of theinformation processing apparatus when the main body is removed from thestorage section, the first and second members being located opposite toeach other, with the step portion interposed between end portions of thefirst and second members on an insertion side of the main body fromwhich the main body is inserted into the storage section, the first andsecond members and the step portion defining space for storing an ICcard, and the first and second members and the IC card inserted in thespace constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which aresubstantially identical to a size and an outer shape of the standardcard; and

guide surfaces formed on the step portion of the main body such that theguide surfaces are inclined, the guide surfaces guiding the projectionsin a direction where the projections are detached from the step portion,when the main body is removed from the storage section and the stepportion is put into contact with the projections.

According to the present invention, the size and outer shape of the ICcard reading/writing device are substantially identical to those of thestandard card. The device can be inserted into the storage section ofthe information processing apparatus, for storing the standard card. Thedevice enables the IC card to be used in the information processingapparatus such as a portable personal computer in which the standardcard is usable. Furthermore, the following advantages are obtained:

It can be considered that the positions of the earthing members withinthe storage section vary from one information processing apparatus toanother. However, the device of the present invention is reliablygrounded regardless of the positions of the earthing members within thestorage section of the information processing apparatus. This is becausethe conductive cover, as mentioned above, covers the entire outerperipheral portion of the first member.

In addition, when the main body is removed from the storage section ofthe information processing apparatus, and the step portion is put intocontact with the projections of the storage section, the projections areguided along the guide surfaces of the step portion, and detached fromthe step portion. By virtue of this feature, the device prevents theprojections from being caught by the step portion.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and, together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an IC card, an IC cardreading/writing device and a portable personal computer device in thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the IC card reading/writing device;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the IC card reading/writing device;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view of a storage section of theportable personal computer device;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the storage section of theportable personal computer device;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the storage section of the portable personalcomputer device;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an IC card read/writing device in the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the IC card reading/writing device;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the IC card reading/writing device;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view of a storage section of aportable personal computer device;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the storage section of theportable personal computer device;

FIG. 13 is a front view of the storage section of the portable personalcomputer device;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of an IC card reading/writing device in the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the IC card reading/writing device;

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the IC card reading/writing device;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a IC card reading/writing device in the fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the IC card reading/writing device; and

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the IC card reading/writing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention. To be morespecific, it shows an IC card 5, an IC card reading/writing device 3,and a computer device 1 functioning as an information processing device,such as a notebook-type personal computer.

The computer device 1 includes: a front portion having an insertion slot1a for allowing a card-type device to be inserted into the computerdevice 1; a card storage section 2 for storing a PC card used as astandard card such as a memory card; and a connector 2a for the PC card.The card storage section 2 has a shape and dimensions in accordance witha standard card.

The IC card reading/writing device 3 has a light emitting diode (LED)12, an eject button 13, and a connector portion 10 to be electricallyconnected to the connector 2a of the computer device 1. The connectorportion 10 is formed on an insertion side (front side) of the device 3from which the device 3 is inserted into the computer device 1, and theLED 12 and the eject button 13 are formed on a terminal end side (rearside) of the device 3. The device 3 is inserted through the insertionslot 1a, and located in the card storage section 2.

An integrated circuit having terminals 6 are provided on one side of theIC card 5 to be inserted into the device 3.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show the IC card reading/writing device 3. To be specific,FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device 3, FIG. 3 is a side view of thedevice 3, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IVof FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device 3 has a main unit 4 used as a firstmember, which includes a main frame 21 and an upper cover frame 22attached to the main frame 21. The upper portion and side portions ofthe upper cover frame 22 are covered by a conducive upper cover 23 usedas a cover member formed of a conductive material. In other words, theentire outer peripheral portion of the upper cover frame 22 is coveredby the conductive upper cover 23.

A contact block C and a removing mechanism (not shown), etc. are locatedin the main unit 4. The contact block comprises eight pins which contactthe terminals 6 of the IC card 5, and the removing mechanism is designedto remove the IC card 5 from the device 3.

A main body 20 of the device 3 has the following structure:

A base frame 24 used as a second member and formed of metal is locatedopposite to the main frame 21. On the front side of the device 3, theend portions of the main frame 21 and base frame 24 are connected toeach other by the connector portion 10 used as a step portion. On therear side of the device 3, the other end portions of the main frame 21and base frame 24 are connected to each other by a connection portion 25used as a projection portion A, which is projected from the card storagesection 2 when the device 3 is inserted in the computer device 1. Themain frame 21, the base frame 24, the connector portion 10 and theconnection portion 25 define side openings. In other words, the sideopenings are provided on the both sides of the main body 20. The widthof the main unit 4 is substantially equal to the width of the connectorportion 10, and the thickness of the main unit 4 is smaller than that ofthe connector portion 10.

The base frame 24 is designed to mainly protect the bottom surface ofthe IC card 5, and enable the contact block and the terminals 6 of theIC card 5 to reliably contact each other. The main frame 21 is separatedfrom the base frame 24 by 0.76 mm or more, and a storage space 11 foruse in storing the IC card is provided between the main frame 21 and thebase frame 24. The width of the main unit 4 is 54 mm, and the width ofthe base frame 24 is 48 mm or less.

The greater part of the IC card reading/writing device 3 has a shape anddimensions according to the standard of a card-type device. To bespecific, the device 3 has a thickness of 5 mm or less and a width of 54mm which is equal to that of an IC card on which a large scaleintegrated circuit (LSI) is mounted.

When the IC card 5 is inserted into the storage space 11 of the device3, the size and shape of a combination of the IC card 5 and that portionB of the device 3 which is to be inserted into the computer device 1 aresubstantially identical to those of a standardized card-type device.

Therefore, the device 3 can be inserted through the insertion slot 1a ofthe computer device 1, and located in the card storage section 2thereof, with the IC card 5 held in the device 3.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a pair of earthing members 31 provided in the cardstorage section 2 of the computer device 1.

The earthing members 31 are formed of spring members, and projected fromside areas of the bottom surface of the card storage section 2, the sidesurfaces of the section 2, or side areas of the top surface of thesection 2.

Therefore, in order for the IC card 5 to be used in the portablepersonal computer device 1, the operation is performed in the followingorder:

The IC card 5 is inserted into the storage space 11 of the IC cardreading/writing device 3. Then, the device 3 is inserted into the cardstorage section 2 through the insertion slot la of the computerdevice 1. As a result, the connector portion 10 of the device 3 iselectrically connected to the connector 2a of the computer device 1, andthus the IC card 5 stored in the device 3 can be used in the computerdevice 1. In addition, when the device 3 is stored in the card storagesection 2 of the computer device 1, the earthing members 31 of thecomputer device 1 contact the conductive cover 23 covering the uppercover frame 22 of the device 3, as a result of which the device 3 isearthed via the earthing members 31.

In such a manner, the IC card reading/writing device 3 can be insertedinto the card storage section 2 of the portable personal computer device1, for storing the standard card such as a standardized memory card. Inother words, the device 3 can be used in the computer device 1. Thus,the computer device 1 can be carried, with the device 3 insertedtherein. In addition, the device 3 can be used regardless of whether ornot there is space for location of the device 3 outside the computerdevice 1. Therefore, the device 3 is far more convenient thanconventional IC reading/writing devices.

Furthermore, the earthing members 31 of the computer device 1, asmentioned above, are projected from the side areas of the bottom surfaceof the card storage section 2, the side surfaces of the section 2, orthe side areas of the top surface of the section 2. However, the device3 is reliably grounded by the earthing members 31, even if the earthingmembers 31 are located in any of the above positions. This is becausethe conductive cover 23 covers the entire outer peripheral portion ofthe upper cover frame 22 of the device 3, and thus the conductive cover23 of the device 3 can reliably contact the earthing members 31.

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an IC card reading/writing device, FIG. 9 is aside view of the device, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the device.

The same structural elements of the second embodiment that have alreadybeen discussed in the first embodiment are denoted by the same referencenumerals, and the explanations therefor will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, on the front side of the IC cardreading/writing device 3, the end portions of base frame 24 and mainframe 4 are connected to each other by the connector portion 10 used asthe step portion. The bottom portion of the connector portion 10includes inclined surfaces 33 serving as guiding surfaces, which areformed on side areas of the bottom portion, and inclined downwards in aninsertion direction where the device 3 is inserted into the computerdevice 1. In other words, the connector portion 10 has stepped portionseach of which is connected to the main frame 4 and has a thicknessdiffering from the thickness of the main frame 4 and graduallydecreasing in the opposite direction of the insertion direction.

Furthermore, the earthing members 31, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, areprojected from the side areas of the bottom surface of the card storagesection 2 of the computer device 1. When the device 3 is removed fromthe card storage section 2 of the computer device 1, the inclinedsurfaces 33 of the device 3 and the earthing members 31 of the computerdevice 1 are put into contact with each other, and the earthing members31 are slid along the inclined surfaces 33, and then detached downwardsfrom the connector portion 10.

By virtue of the above structure, the connector portion 10 of the ICcard reading/writing device 3 is not caught by the earthing members 31of the computer device 1, and thus the device 3 can be removed smoothlyfrom the computer device 1.

FIGS. 14 to 16 illustrate the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, inclined surfaces 34 serving as guidingsurfaces are provided on side areas of the connector portion 10 whichare used as the step portion and interposed between the end portions ofthe main frame 4 and base frame 24.

A left one of the inclined surfaces 34 is inclined leftwards in theinsertion direction of the device 3, and a right one of the inclinedsurfaces 34 is inclined rightwards in the insertion direction.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, projections 41 are projected fromthe side surfaces of the card storage section 2 of the computerdevice 1. When the IC card reading/writing device 3 is removed from thecard storage section 2, the inclined surfaces 34 of the connectorportion 10 of the device 3 and the projections 41 of the computer device1 are put into contact with each other such that the projections 41 areslid along the inclined surface 34, and then the projections 41 aredetached sidewards from the connector portion 10.

Therefore, the IC card reading/writing device 3 is not caught by theprojections 41, and thus can be smoothly removed from the computerdevice 1.

FIGS. 17 to 19 illustrate the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

In the fourth embodiment, inclined surfaces 35 serving as guidingsurfaces are formed on the bottom portion and left and right sideportions of the connector portion 10 which are used as the step portionand interposed between the end portions of the main frame 4 and baseframe 24.

The inclined surfaces 35 formed on the bottom portion are inclineddownwards, the inclined surface 35 formed on the left side portion isinclined leftwards and the inclined surface 35 formed on the right sideportion is inclined rightwards, in the insertion direction where themain body 20 is inserted into the storage section of the informationprocessing apparatus. A left one of the inclined surfaces 35 formed onthe bottom portion is continuous with the inclined surface 35 formed onthe left side portion, and a right one of the inclined surfaces 35formed on the bottom portion is continuous with the inclined surface 35formed on the right side portion.

By virtue of the above structural feature of the fourth embodiment, theIC card reading/writing device 3 has the following advantage:

As mentioned above, the projections 51 of the computer device 1 areprojected from the side surfaces of the card storage section 2 of thecomputer device 1 or the side areas of the card storage section 2.Therefore, when the device 3 is removed from the card storage section 2,and the connector portion 10 is put into contact with the projections51, the projections 51 are guided along the inclined surfaces 35, andthen detached from the connector portion 10. Thus, the device 3 is notcaught by the projections 51, and thus can be smoothly removed from thecard insertion section 2.

As explained above, according to the present invention, when the IC card5 is stored in the storage space 11 defined between the main frame 4 andthe base frame 24, the size and outer shape of a combination of the mainframe 4, the base frame 24 and the IC card are substantially identicalto those of the standard card. In other words, the main body 20 isconsiderable small in thickness, and can be inserted into the cardstoring section 2 of the computer device 1.

Thus, the IC reading/writing device 3 enables the IC card 5 to be usedin the information processing apparatus such as a portable personalcomputer in which the standard card is usable. Therefore, the device 3is remarkably convenient.

Furthermore, it can be considered that the positions of the earthingmembers 31 in the storage section vary from one information processingapparatus to another. However, the conductive upper cover 23 can bereliably put into contact with the earthing members 31 and thus reliablygrounded, regardless of the positions of the earthing members 31 withinthe storage section 2 of the computer device 1. This is because theconductive upper cover 23 covers the entire outer peripheral portion ofthe main frame 4 of the main body 20.

In addition, as stated above, the inclined surfaces 33, the inclinedsurfaces 34 or the inclined surfaces 35 are formed on the connectorportion 10 of the main body 20. Thus, the earthing members 31, theprojections 41, or the projections 51 in the card storage section 2 aremoved along the inclined surfaces 33, the inclined surfaces 34, or theinclined surfaces 35, and detached from the connector portion 10, whenthe main body 20 is removed from the information processing apparatus,and the connector portion 10 is put into contact with the earthingmembers 31, the projections 41 or the projections 51. As a result, themain body 20 is prevented from being caught by the earthing members 31,the projections 41 or the projections 51, and thus smoothly insertedinto and removed from the information processing apparatus.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, and representative devices shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An IC card reading/writing device comprising:amain body including a first member and a second member which are locatedopposite to each other, defining space for storing an IC card, the firstand second members and the IC card inserted in the space constituting aunit having a size and an outer shape which are substantially identicalto a size and an outer shape of a standard card, and the main bodycapable of being removably inserted into that storage section of aninformation processing apparatus which is provided for storing thestandard card and which has earthing members; and a conductive covermember covering an entire outer peripheral portion of the first member,and contacting the earthing members as long as the main body remainsinserted in the storage section.
 2. An IC card reading/writing devicecomprising:a main body capable of being removably inserted into thatstorage section of an information processing apparatus which is providedfor storing a standard card and which has projections, the main bodyincluding a first member, a second member, and a step portion which isput into contact with the projections of the storage section of theinformation processing apparatus when the main body is removed from thestorage section, the first and second members being located opposite toeach other, with the step portion interposed between end portions of thefirst and second members on an insertion side of the main body fromwhich the main body is inserted into the storage section, the first andsecond members and the step portion defining space for storing an ICcard, and the first and second members and the IC card inserted in thespace constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which aresubstantially identical to a size and an outer shape of the standardcard; and guide surfaces formed on the step portion of the main bodysuch that the guide surfaces are inclined, the guide surfaces guidingthe projections in a direction where the projections are detached fromthe step portion, when the main body is removed from the storage sectionand the step portion is put into contact with the projections.
 3. The ICcard reading/writing device according to claim 2, wherein the guidesurfaces are formed on a bottom portion of the step portion, andinclined downwards in an insertion direction where the main body isinserted into the storage section of the information processingapparatus.
 4. The IC card reading/writing device according to claim 2,wherein the guide surfaces are formed on left and right side portions ofthe step portion, and the guide surface formed the left side portion isinclined leftwards and the guide surface formed on the right sideportion is inclined rightwards in an insertion direction where the mainbody is inserted into the storage section of the information processingapparatus.
 5. The IC card reading/writing device according to claim 2,wherein the guide surfaces are formed on a bottom portion and left andright side portions of the step portion, and the guide surfaces formedon the bottom portion are inclined downwards, the guide surface formedon the left side portion is inclined leftwards and the guide surfaceformed on the right side portion is inclined rightwards, in an insertiondirection where the main body is inserted into the storage section ofthe information processing apparatus, such that a left one of the guidesurfaces formed on the bottom portion is continuous with the guidesurface formed on the left side portion, and a right one of the guidesurfaces formed on the bottom portion is continuous with the guidesurface formed on the right side portion.
 6. An IC card reading/writingdevice comprising:a main body capable of being removably inserted intothat storage section of an information processing apparatus which is forstoring a standard card and which has earthing members, the main bodyincluding a first member, a second member, and a step portion which isput into contact with the earthing members of the storage section of theinformation processing apparatus when the main body is removed from thestorage section, the first and second members being located opposite toeach other, with the step portion interposed between end portions of thefirst and second members on an insertion side of the main body fromwhich the main body is inserted into the storage section, the first andsecond members and the step portion defining space for storing an ICcard, and the first and second members and the IC card inserted in thespace constituting a unit having a size and an outer shape which aresubstantially identical to a size and an outer shape of the standardcard; a conductive cover member covering an entire outer peripheralportion of the first member, and contacting the earthing members as longas the main body remains inserted in the storage section; and guidesurfaces formed on the step portion of the main body such that the guidesurfaces are inclined, the guide surfaces guiding the earthing membersin a direction where the earthing members are detached from the stepportion, when the main body is removed from the storing section and thestep portion is put into contact with the earthing members.
 7. An ICcard reading/writing device comprising:a main body capable of beingremovably inserted into that storage section of an informationprocessing apparatus which is provided for storing a standard card andhas earthing members, the main body including a first member and asecond member which are located opposite to each other, defining spacefor storing an IC card, and the first and second members and the IC cardinserted in the space constituting a unit having a size and an outershape which are substantially identical to a size and an outer shape ofthe standard card; and a conductive cover member contacting the earthingmembers as long as the main body remains inserted in the storingsection.
 8. An IC card reading/writing device having a contact block tobe electrically connected to a connector of that storage section of aninformation processing apparatus which is provided for storing astandard card, the contact block being to be electrically connected toterminals provided on a surface of an IC card, the IC cardreading/writing device comprising:a main body including a connectorportion, a first member and a second member, the connector portion beingto be electrically connected to the connector of the storage section ofthe information processing apparatus, the connector portion havingstepped portions each of which is connected to the first member and hasa thickness greater than a thickness of the first member and graduallydecreasing in a direction opposite to an insertion direction where theIC card reading/writing device is inserted into the informationprocessing apparatus, the first member and the second member beinglocated opposite to each other, defining space for storing the IC card,and having side end opening portions which are provided on both sides ofthe first and second members, the first member having a width equal to awidth of the connector portion, and the second member having a widthsmaller than the width of the connector portion; and a projectionportion located opposite to the connector portion in a longitudinaldirection of each of the first and second members, the projectionportion being projected from the storage section of the informationprocessing apparatus when the IC card reading/writing device is insertedin the information processing apparatus, and the projection portionconnecting the first and second members.